I'll see if I can make this brief, yet enjoyable. I'd really want to create a separate story with the other character's interactions with Robin as well.
- Disclaimer: Fire Emblem characters do not belong to me.
- Notice: May contain spoilers. Original characters may be added. Storyline may deviate from original video game. Contains fantasy violence, mild language, alcohol reference, and suggested themes.
"Now...where is it?" Robin tossed his books aside in search for his healing remedy. "Ow!" He applied a bandage over his cut. "Come to think of it, I may have used the last of the salve yesterday." His cut suddenly stung as he applied pressure onto his laceration. "What to do, what to do..." He stood in the middle of his tent in deep thought.
Cordelia walked by as she found the tactician in his tent. It was open as she eavesdropped on his conversation. "You're not out of salve. I restocked some earlier." She stood at the entrance of his tent.
Robin turned to find Cordelia speaking to him. "Ah, you did?" He scratched his head, the bloodied bandage fell to the ground as he watched it fall. The tactician picked it up as he felt the cut bleeding once more.
"Here, let me." She took the salve from his bag. It had been there all along. With a few of the lavenders she collected from earlier, she was able to make a healing salve just in time. She dabbed her finger into the container and placed it over his cut.
He watched her move close as she spread the salve onto his skin. This was the first time head had been so close to her. "Thank you." He managed as she stepped back. "You never miss a detail, do you?"
"I just like to stay on top of things." She closed the container and set it into his bag. "By taking stock of everyone's equipment, I know when anything needs replacement."
"Wait, you keep track of EVERYONE'S equipment?" His eyes widened in surprise. "All in your head?"
"Of course," she turned around and faced Robin. "Imagine the chaos if our potions and equipment ran out at the same time."
"...Gods," a cold sweat trickled from his side. "I can certainly see why everyone calls you a genius."
She knit her brows together and took a step towards the blonde tactician. "Do not call me that!" She yelled in his face.
He took a step back, nearly tripping because of his books. "Oh, i'm sorry. I meant no offense."
"...No," Cordelia retreated as her voice toned down, she didn't mean to yell at him. "Of course you didn't. Please forgive me." She lowered her head, her red hair falling to her sides. "It's just that...my superiors called me that from the moment I joined the knights." She turned away with her back facing Robin. "It was so very hard sometimes..." It brought back painful memories as she watched the Shepherds happily gathered around the campfire.
Robin lit the candle as it started to grow dark.
"Little Lady Genius, they called me. They teased and taunted me..." She said gingerly.
"Oh..." The tactician turned his head to the side.
"They mocked me too...my appearance, and my javelin technique..." She clenched her eyes remembering the bitter memories.
Robin winced as he heard her words clearly. "I...had no idea members of the pegasus knights could be so spiteful..." His facial expression loosened as he moved to Cordelia's side. "I assure you, when I called you a genius, I meant it only as a compliment."
Cordelia darted her eyes at Robin, she produced a faint smile. "I know. I'm just overly sensitive, that's all."
He grinned at the knight as they both watched the Shepherds by the campfire from their tent. "Well, if you ever need to talk, just let me know."
"Of course. Thank you, Robin. " She looked at him with sincerity, were all the Shepherds this hospitable?
"Good, now come on. We should join the others." He tilted his head towards the group, huddled by the campfire. She nodded and followed after him.
It must've been past midnight when Robin woke up from a dreadful nightmare. He sat up to catch his breath, his face was covered with sweat as he wiped his brow and recollected himself. His hand reached for the lamp as he lit it in the darkness.
The nightmare he had earlier was a tragic one, in it, he failed to create a plan to save Emmeryn. He massaged the bridge of his nose, frustrated that the thought had surfaced from his subconcious.
Robin looked over to his side, there were still a few books that remained unread. He slowly reached for one, it would help him pass the time for now.
Cordelia remained in her tent as the night clouded her quarters in complete darkness. She walked out and headed for her pegasus. The river below them sparkled brightly in the moonlight. Her hand moved to her steed as it replied with a gentle nay. She shushed it as she headed back for her tent.
Her eyes focused on a single lit tent, it must have belonged to Robin. She wondered why he was awake in the middle of the night. Cordelia paused before his room, her shadow looming over the entrance. 'Should I check just to be sure?' Her hand hovered over the cloth, hesitating to interrupt whatever he was doing.
Robin noticed the shadow from the other side, he slowly crouched to the entrance and peered out. His eyes caught sight of the crimson haired knight. "Oh, Cordelia..." he said with a small grin. "Did you need something?"
She blushed instantly. What was she doing? "It's..nothing. I just wanted to check if you were ok, your light was on."
"Oh," he looked back and stood up. "I just had a nightmare." He spoke quietly making sure not to disturb the other sleeping Shepherds.
"A nightmare..." She repeated softly. She had been having them recently as well.
"You want to come in?" He gestured to his quarters.
"I..." Words couldn't form as she watched him in the moonlight.
"I actually think talking to you might be better than reading a book. I'm having a bit of trouble falling back asleep." He shyly admitted.
"Well, if you think it would help..." She entered his tent as he opened it for her. Cordelia sat on the rug as she examined his room closely. It was fairly neat compared to the other boys.
"So what nightmare did you have?" She watched him turn around as he rummaged his touseled, blonde hair.
"It was about me..my plan to save exalt Emmeryn failed." He sat across from her as his eyes moved downward. He noticed she wasn't wearing her armor.
"Oh..." Her words felt hollow, she could imagine that it would've been a heart breaking vision.
"It's just a dream though."
"Right, just a dream." Cordelia remembered some of her own, most were unpleasant. They commonly dealt with her knight-sisters and their screams from that day.
"I just hope it turns out well, I can't have anyone..or anything go wrong out there." He narrowed his eyes on the ground. "Their lives, rest in my own hands."
She could understand the burden he carried, they were surprsingly similar. Cordelia felt as though she was responsible for her knight-sister's lives. She fled by a simple order, she didn't even take her arms to stand beside them. "We are..not so different." She shared with him honestly.
His eyes softened as he met her gaze, perhaps they were. They sat in the tent as they continued to chat with each other as the night waged on.
Cordelia woke as her eyes instinctively opened. She blinked once, then twice as she studied her tent. It clearly wasn't hers. Books were piled up, maps were dispersed on the floor. She was positioned upright when she slept. On her lap rested a head, blonde hair scattered over the boy's face as he stirred in his sleep.
Last night she hadn't returned to her tent after conversing with Robin. She must have fallen asleep from fatigue. The sun remained out of sight, the sky was painted a hue of dark blue, which meant it was still early in the morning.
'I'm sorry Robin, but I must take my leave now, before someone catches us.' Cordelia slowly and carefully removed his head as she set it down onto the ground. Her head peered to find no one awake yet. She tiptoed her way out with ease as the tactician remained fast asleep.
She was nearly made it to her quarters when Sumia caught her from afar.
"Cordelia?" She raised an eyebrow at the prodigal knight, her red hair remained slightly unruly as she faced her best friend.
"Oh, Sumia!" She gave a nervous smile in response.
"I know it's none of my business, but what were you doing in Robin's tent?"
"Oh, umm..." She couldn't lie to her best friend Sumia, could she?
"She helped me fall asleep." A voice responded from the back, Cordelia turned to face the tactician.
"Oh..." Sumia watched the two, she narrowed her eyes at both Shepherds.
"Yes, I had a terrible nightmare last night. Cordelia was the only one who helped me fall asleep after." He replied with all honesty. "Then she accidentally slept in my tent."
The red haired knight blushed, he was right. That was all they did, but she couldn't help but feel embarassed sharing it with Sumia.
"Okay..." She eyed the two before managing a smile for the two. "Well then, we should start packing up. Chrom said we would leave early today to head out."
Cordelia and Robin nodded obediently as Sumia walked away. The red haired knight shot a look at the tactician before returning to her tent without another word. She made sure that this wouldn't happen again.
...To be continued
So if you enjoyed this chapter, remember to fave, follow and/or review. Updates should be pretty quick.
- Replies:
Fireminer: My bad, i never intended it to feel rushed. Dude, give it time. If character interaction is minimal in one chapter it will be made up in the next.
G. : i'm not quite sure about lengthening the chapters because i have a certain way of breaking down each of them.
Thanks for reading
